Talk:Tower, County Cork
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Population (2002 Census): 3,032.
This from http://www.towervillage.com:
[edit] Introduction
Tower was until recent years a small village situated amidst rolling hills and within the beautiful valley of the meandering river Shournagh. The area is primarily agricultural interspersed with picturesque woodlands.
Tower is part of the parish of Inniscarra, 7 miles N.W of Cork city and two miles from the village of Blarney. In this report Tower covers an area from Cloghroe church to Willison's Bridge on the Blarney road and 34 miles on the Kerry and Matehy roads from the village centre.
Tower is the first village tourists encounter en route from Blarney to Killarney. The area provides excellent services and accommodation for the tourist sector.
Since the early 1990's there has been a huge increase in the number of housing developments in Tower and it's population has increased ten fold. While there have been good and positive improvements in the infrastructure there is an urgent need to provide complementary community and amenity facilities to cater for the large increase in population.
We, as the Tower Community Development Association, cater for the local community needs and also work in conjunction with Inniscarra Community Centre, who cater for the greater needs of our parish.
Everybody in the local community has a part to play in this exciting plan. Together we will create an environment where people can interact in comfort and safety and develop a community with a pride and interest in controlling its own destiny.
[edit] Economic Profile (from website)
Summery of Socio-Economic Profile - April 1998
POPULATION
According to the latest available Census of Population Statistics, Tower had 1,841 people living in the area in 1996. This represented an increase of 30% (439 people) from the 1991 figure of 1,402. Since 1995 over 300 new houses have been built, with a further 100+ currently being constructed. As many of the houses are being purchased by younger couples, often with small children or plans to start a family, it can be assumed that there is an average of two to three per household, indicating a further population increase in the region of 1000. This would put the population at an estimated figure of approximately 3,000. (A survey to be carried out should confirm the exact number of people resident in the area).
The 1996 figures show that there were 517 children between the age of 0-l4yrs and 631 people between 25-44yrs, indicating a very high proportion of young children and young couples, both categories make up 62% of the local population. There was a well balanced male/female ratio, 926/915 and only 6% of the population were over 65yrs.
SERVICES
Shops / Restaurants etc.
There are two general foodstores, one in Tower village, and one at Cloghroe.There is a new shopping centre "centra" which is one of the biggist in cork. The shop in Cloghroe incorporates a video store and provides the Post Office services for the area. The Centra shop in Tower has the only petrol pump outlet.
In the old village centre there are two pubs, a chemist, laundrette, restaurant, a takeaway and a barber shop. An additional two pubs are located at the Cloghroe side, and there is a chemist and hairdresser's next door to the grocery shop there.
Other services include a medical surgery, a dental practitioner, solicitor, building contractors and a garage. There is a Catholic church at Cloghroe and the Garda station in Blarney has jurisdiction over the Tower area.
TRANSPORT
Most households have access to private transport (the last S.A.P.S. in 1991 found that 80% of households had a car), however for those without their own form of transport or unable to drive there is a good public bus service
to and from Cork. Bus Fireann have eleven scheduled services to and from Cork daily Monday - Saturday, and on Sundays there are ten each way.
EDUCATION
There is just one school in the area, the Cloghroe National School, which currently caters for 430 primary school children. It's catchment area extends over the whole Inniscarra parish, and sixteen teachers are employed at the school. The nearest secondary school is in Blarney, two miles from Tower.
OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY / INDUSTRY
There is no industry in Tower, aside from those engaged in the aforementioned services. Agriculture and tourism provide for some additional economic activity. In 1991 there were 12 people engaged in farming or related work. Due to impacts from Common Agriculture Policy and the amount of land sold for development in the past number of years, that number has probably further declined. With Tower's proximity to Blarney there has been some growth in the tourism sector. There are eleven B&B's, Country House accommodation and a Hostel. Cork County Council have an office located near the sewerage facility.
It can be assumed that the building industry, currently very active in Tower, provides for a number of local jobs. In general, most people commute to work in the city. In 1991, 76% of all women working outside the home were employed in the clerical, commercial, professional and technical sectors. A similar trend for men with however only 7% engaged in clerical work whilst a much higher proportion 24% were involved in manufacturing.
COMMUNITY AMENITIES AND LEISURE FACILITIES
One of the major drawbacks in Tower is the lack of central amenities and leisure facilities. At present the Inniscarra Community Centre at Ballyanley provides the most comprehensive range of facilities.inniscarra football and hurling club have 3 pitches and a club house.The centre includes three playing fields (one is an all-weather pitch), six tennis courts and a pitch and putt course. There is a central community hall, which requires some refurbishment, and the new GAA hall and dressing rooms.there is a soccer club"strand united" 3 pitches a up and comeing rugby club with a brilliant youth section and accept all ages it has a new club house with upstairs and all nessary aminaties
Muskerry Golf Club situated alongside the town is and excellent 18-hole course and a valuable amenity.
Blarney has an equestrian centre and there is a leisure complex in Blarney Park Hotel.
There are no adequate community facilities in the town itself. Tower Hall, an old corrugated structure, well utilised by the local I.C.A., Karate Club and for social events for the elderly i.e. card games, is insufficient for burgeoning community needs
